Talisay City passes ordinance declaring Arbor Day on June 5

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council approved on final reading the passage of an ordinance seeking to institutionalize Arbor Day in the city.

City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos Jr., chairman of the committee on environmental protection, wildlife ecological and natural resources management, said the measure provides that the city will declare every June 5 and every year thereafter as its Arbor Day, following the country's and international annual observance of tree planting.

The word "arbor" is a Latin term for "tree."

Under R.A. 10176, also known as the Arbor Day Act of 2012, authorizes all local government units to take on the responsibility of celebrating the day for tree planting as annual event.

"The City of Talisay is striving to promote a healthier ecosystem of the people through the rehabilitation and re-greening of all its forest lands and urban areas," Bacaltos said in his resolution, adding that the annual tree planting activity is our immediate response to the current and future ecological destruction and calamities.

Bacaltos said the city will designate an area or areas where the tree planting will be conducted. Residents in the city are also mandated to plant trees in designated areas.

According to Wikipedia, the necessity to promote a healthier ecosystem for the people through the rehabilitation and regreening of the environment was stressed in Proclamation No. 643 that amended Proclamation No. 396 of June 2, 2003. Proclamation No. 396 enjoined the "active participation of all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society groups and the citizenry in tree planting activity and declaring June 25, 2003 as Philippines Arbor Day.  (FREEMAN)